Sheet scoring and slotting mechanism



Dec. 29 1925- 14,567,656

5.. M. LANGSTON SHEET SCORING AND SLOTTING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 19, 1924 l i E 1 0- 0.

vi 3 TTORNEYS Patented Dec. 29, 1925.

PATENT, OFFICE.

SAMUEL M. LANGSTON', OF WENONAH, NEW JERSEY.

SHEET SCORING AND SLOT'IING MECHANISM.

Application filed January 19, 1924. Serial No. 687,215.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL M. LANGSTON, a citizen of the United States, and resident of WVenonah, in the county of Gloucester and State of New Jersey, have invented certain 'new and useful Improvements in Sheet Scoring and Slotting Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention I is an improvement in mechanism for slotting and creasing or scoring sheet material, and is particularly useful in connection with the forming of box blanks. I

In machines of this general character it is common to provide a pair of coacting rotary members between which the sheet passes to score orv crease the same along a fold-line, and a second pair of coacting rotary members between which the sheet also passes to slot it at one or both ends of the crease or creases to separate adjacent portions which may be later folded to form the ends or end flaps of the box. The position of each slot bears a definite relationship to the position of a crease or score line in the sheet, and therefore in adjusting the parts for forming a blank of a different size or shape, both the scoring and the slotting members must be adjusted to the new positions.

My present invention relates to the adjusting mechanism for moving the slotting Y and scoring members axially to the desired positions. The invention involves certain improvements over the construction shown in my prior application, Serial N 0. 653,431,

filed July 24th, 1923, and also involves a further form of the broad invention there claimed. Y

The main object of my present invention is to save time in ,making adjustments and insure greater accuracy of adjustments by providing interengaging parts which maintain the slotting and scoring" members at all times in proper alignment, and which facilitate the simultaneous and equal adjustment of these parts when desired.

A further object is to provide adjusting mechanism which is independent of the slot,- ting and scoring members and may be applied to machines having standard forms of slotting and scoring members without necessitating alteration in the latter.

A further object of my invention is to provide means whereby a single operating member serves for the axial adjustment of all of thecutting parts of the slotting and scoring mechanism.

Other. objects and advantages will be pointed out hereinafter or will be apparent from a consideration of the construction disclosed in the accompanying drawings.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section in a plane at right angles to the axes of the slotting and scoring members,

Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional details on the lings 2-2 and 3-3 respectively of Fig. 1, an

Fig. 1 is a sectional detail showing the stripper finger as a part of the adjusting means. 7

I have illustrated my invention in connection with a specific form of slotting and scoring or creasing mechanism, the details of which form no part of the present invention. The scoring or creasing mechanism includes an upper member 10 mounted on a shaft 11 and having a hardened cylindrical surface against which acts the edge of a scoring blade 12 mountedon a shaft 13. The blade is carried by a head or collar let which is keyed to the shaft 13 so that the scoring blade may be moved lengthwise of the shaft to any desired position. By making the platen member 10 of a length equal to the total range of adjustment of the scoring or creasing blade 12, no adjustment of this platen member is required for the proper positioning of the crease or score line transversely of the blank. It will be understood that suitable means are provided for driving the members 10 and 12 with substantially the same surface speed, and in opposite directions to have a rolling movement on the blank as it passes between the members. It will also be understood that suitable means are'provided for adjusting the shafts 11 and 13 toward and from each other in accordance withthe thickness of the material being acted upon. Such driying and adjusting means form no portion of my invention and have not been illustrated.

The slotting mechanism is mounted on a pair of shafts 15 and 16 so positioned that this mechanism comes closely adjacent to the scorin mechanism. As shown, the lower slottmg member includes a head 17 keyed to the shaft 16 and having a pair of flanges, plates or circular knives 18'18 spaced apart to leave a peripheral groove or channel 19 ofa width equal to the width of the slot which it is desired to form in the sheet. The collar portion o'f the head 17 may be in the form of a split flange rovided with aclamping screw 20 for locking the head on the shaft when it has been adjusted lengthwise 0f the shaft to the desired position.

The upper member of the slotting mechaniSm includes ahead keyed to the shaft 15 and'similarly provided with a slotted flange and locking screw 20. The head 21 carries a slotting blade 22 rigidly secured thereto, and of a width substantially equal to the width of the groove 19 of the lower member, so that the edges thereof coa'ct with the edges of the members 18 to give a. shearing action as the blade enters the groove during the rotation of the members. The blade is removable and is of a length at least equalzto the length of the desired slot. Preferably the head is provided with two blades which are circumferentially adjustable .so as to form the two slots between the flaps at o posite ends of a blank and at the desired d fstance apart. One blade 23 ma be secured to a plate 24 which is circum erentially adjustable on the head 21 and held in position by clamping screws 25.

In the operation of the machine the narrow stri s of material which are cut from the bla by the blades 22 and 23 are forced into the groove 19. A stripper finger 26 extends into this groove so as to come'beneath the stri s' of material and remove them. This stripper finger is carried bya collar 27 whicheis keyed toa transversely extending rod 28. The specific form of slotting mechanism is substantially the'same' as that illustrated in myprior ap lication Serial No. 653,431, hereinbefore re erred to, except that the slotting mechanism itself is not provided withany means for moving it lengthwise of' its supporting shafts 15 For effecting the axial adjustment of the.

members I provide a transversely extending rack bar29 which may be integral with orcarried by a rod 30 mounted parallel to the several shafts hereinbefore referred to. A member 31'is slidably mounted on this rod and is provided with a pinion 32 meshing with therack bar. One or both ends of the squared or otherwise formed to receive a key member, wrench or other tool for ositively rotating the pinion and thereby coding the member 31 along the rack bar. The member 31 is' provided with means which engage with the lower scoring member and the lower slotting member so as to slide them lengthwise of their respective shafts as the member 31 is moved along the rack bar. A simple form of connecting means includes a pair of plates33 secured to the member 31 and engaging with opposite sides of the scoring head 14, and also with opposite sides of the slotting head 17. I.

as engaging with'a guide 'rod 34 so asto prevent any rotation of the plates about the rod 30'as an axis. Obviously this rod 34: might ,be omitted-"if the rod 30 be locked against rotation and'be provided with a key or other means. for preventing rotation ofthe member 31 thereon. I have also shown the plates 33 spaced by a sleeve 35 and a clamping screw 36 which hold the plates in definite spacedrelationship. As the lower slotting member has a continuous peripheral groove 19 it will be obvious that the plates 33 need not engage with the outer sides of the head 17, but that the-member 31 may be provided with means engaging 1n the groove 19 to move the head length- 31. Such means might serve as the stripper finger and thus the parts 26, 27 and 28might be entirely omitted, or a stripper finger 26" might be mounted directly on the collar 31 as shown in Fig. 4, and in addition to the plates 33. It will be noted wise-during the adjustment of the member v that the stripper finger will be adjusted 3 axially during the adjustment of the lower slotting member whether mounted on the collar 27 or mounted 'directly on. the collar 31. I.

By means of my improved construction it is not necessary to provide any separate parts for the axial adjustment of the upper members of the slotting and scoring mechanisms. The upper slotting-head may be rotated to bring one of the two blades 22- l 23 into the groove 19 so that as the lower slotting head is moved axially the upper one will be forced to follow and remain in proper o erative relationship thereto. By making t e upper member of the scoring.

mechanism a sleeve with a hardened surface, no adjustment of this member is required. In making the adjustment of the parts for a particular size and shape of box blank, it is merely necessary to loosen the clamping screws 20, rotate the pinion to bring the three members 12, 17 and 21 to the proper position, and then tighten the clamping screws. If desired the scoring head 14 may be provided with clamping means similar to those on the slotting heads.

It will be understood that in the ordinary machine for making box banks or for cffecting' other scoring and slotting operations, the shafts 13, 15 and 16 are provided with a plurality of sets of heads which may be adjusted toward and from each other to bring the several crease lines and slots at the proper distance apart. Each set of heads would have its own adjusting mechanism of the character .hlereinbefore described. One type of machine in which my present invention may be employed is that illustrated in my prior application hereinbefore referred to.

described my invention, what Having thus by Let- I claim as new and desire to secure ters Patent is 1. In combination a slotting member, a

scoring member, amember engaging wit both of said first mentioned members, and

means for moving said last mentioned member to effect axial adjustment of the two first mentioned members.

2. In combination a slotting member, a scoring member, a rack bar and an adjusting device engaging with both of said members and having a pinion engaging with said rack bar.

3. In combination a pair of parallel shafts, a rod parallel thereto, a pair of members mounted one on each shaft and adapted to act in succession on a sheet of material, and a member mounted on said rod and movable along the same for adjusting said members axially of their respective shafts.

4:. In combination a pair of parallel shafts, a rack bar parallel thereto, a pair of members mounted one on each shaft and adapted to act in succession on a sheet of material, and a member mounted on said rack bar and movable along the same for adjusting said members axially of their respective shafts.

5. In combination a pair of parallel shafts, a rack bar arallel thereto, a slotting head on-one cit said shafts, a scoring head on the other of said shafts, and a member movable along said rack bar for effecting the axial movement of said heads,

and including a pinion meshing with said rack bar.

6. In combination a scoring head, a slotting head, a rack bar disposed therebetween and a member movable along said rack bar and engaging with said heads for preventing relative axial movement of one head in respect to the other.

7. In combination a scoring head, a slotting head, a rack bar disposed therebetween, and a member movable along said rack bar and engaging with said heads for simultaneously adjusting said members axially.

8. In combination a shaft, a slotting head slidable thereon, a member parallel to said shaft and having rack teeth, a member movable along said first mentioned member and having a pinion for engaging said rack teeth and having means for engaging said slotting head to effect axial adjustment thereof.

9. In combination a pair of shafts, a slotting head slidably mounted on one shaft, a scoring head slidably mounted on the other shaft, a rack bar parallel to said shafts and disposed therebetween, a collar slidable along said rack bar and having a pinion meshing therewith, and means carried by said collar and having interengaging relationship with said heads for adjusting them axially in either direction on their respective shafts by the movement of the collar along the rack bar.

10. In combination a pair of shafts, a pair of members one on each shaft for acting in succession on a sheet of material, a pair of rods one including rack teeth, a pair of plates engaging with opposite sides of said members to hold them in the same plane, said plates being mounted on said rods, and a pinion meshing with said rack teeth for sliding said plates along said rods.

11. In combination a scoring head, a slotting head, a pair of rods, one including rack teeth, and a member movable along said rods and having a pinion meshing with said rack teeth, said member having interengaging relationship with said heads for effecting their simultaneous axial adjustment.

12. In combination a slotting head, a rack bar, a member movable along said rack bar and having a pinion meshing therewith, and a stripper finger carried by said memher and engaging with said head.

13. In combination a slotting member, a rack bar, a member movable along said rack bar for adjusting said slotting member axially, and having means engaging with said slotting member and serving as a stripper.

14:. In combination a slotting member, a scoring member, and means engaging wit said members for adjusting them axially, said means also having a part serving to remove from the slotting member pieces of material cut out by the latter.

15. In combination a scoring head, a

slotting head having a peripheral groove, a rack bar, a member movable along said rack bar and having a part engaging with said scoring head, and a part projecting into the groove of said slotting head for pro-- venting relative axial adjustment of said heads.

16. In combination a slotting head and SAMUEL M. LANGSTON; 

